“Bringing the Northeast closer to the nation through transparent systems and inclusive growth”

Chanchal Kumar, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, is currently serving as Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER). Known for his hands-on approach and reform-oriented leadership, he has held key assignments in both the Government of Bihar and the Government of India, including Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Bihar and roles in infrastructure, rural development, and governance reform. At MDoNER, he is steering a critical agenda focused on sustainable development, connectivity expansion, and investment promotion in the Northeast, aligning regional growth with the national vision of inclusive progress. In an exclusive interview, he shares his insights with Smart Governance Editor J.P. Gupta and Special Correspondent Sanjeev Jasrotia.
Excerpts from the Interview:

Sir, thank you very much for being with us. You’ve worked across various governance sectors and now you are at the helm of MDoNER, an area of great importance to the Prime Minister as well. What strikes you most about the Northeast — its people, culture, and what personally inspires you as Secretary of this ministry?
Thank you for having me. The Northeast has its own set of challenges, both geographical and logistical, and yet the people there show extraordinary warmth, adaptability, and community spirit. Their optimism and entrepreneurial spirit are unmatched. The diversity of tribes, festivals, cuisines, agriculture, and especially their vibrant textiles inspire me deeply. The cultural richness, alongside the pristine natural landscape, biodiversity, and tourism potential, motivates me to do more. It’s a region of immense resilience and beauty, which gives me hope and energy every day.

Given this biodiversity hotspot and the ecological sensitivity of the region, how do you balance large-scale development with environmental sustainability?
Sustainability is our core principle. Every project must pass safeguards—forest clearances, management plans for tribal and forest resources, and convergence with PM Gati Shakti to optimize resources. We avoid excesses, ensure ecological checks, and adopt a checklist-driven approach before sanctioning projects. Our goal is sustainable growth where development and ecology go hand in hand. This balance has already improved the quality of expenditure in the region over the past decade.

Could you share some figures on how much investment the Northeast has received in recent years?
Certainly. The government mandates 10% of gross budgetary support to be spent in the Northeast. In 2014, this was about ₹24,500 crore. Last year, it peaked at ₹1,02,749 crore — a 4.2-fold increase. Against a target of ₹6.02 lakh crore, we have already crossed ₹6.07 lakh crore. This public investment has ensured that the region’s growth rate consistently exceeds the national average — if the national rate is 7%, the Northeast’s is around 9%.

What about connectivity — roads, railways, air, and digital?
Connectivity has improved remarkably. Railway line construction has tripled compared to 2009–14, with 777 km sanctioned worth ₹70,000 crore. Of this, 278 km are already operational. National highways have expanded by over 5,000 km in the past decade, and airports have grown from 9 to 17. Inland waterways rose from 1 to 20. Telecom is equally important — under the Vibrant Villages Programme, we’re ensuring 4G in the remotest, or as we call them now, “first villages.” Broadband and digital access are priorities.

Public spending is significant, but how are you attracting private sector investment?
We’ve organized nine roadshows across cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi, where all eight northeastern states showcased their strengths. This culminated in the “North East Rising” investor summit, which generated investment proposals worth ₹4.48 lakh crore. A strong example is a ₹27,000 crore semiconductor fabrication unit in Assam, creating over 15,000 direct jobs. Already, over ₹8,400 crore worth of new investments have materialized. Each state now has its own investment promotion agency, single-window system, and sectoral policies.

What measurable outcomes have emerged from schemes like PM-DevINE?
Our ministry runs five schemes, including PM-DevINE and the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme. We fill the gaps left by line ministries. To date, about 3,600 projects have been sanctioned — 2,500 completed, 1,100 ongoing. These include roads, smart classrooms, medical colleges, tourist infrastructure, and livelihood projects. Last year, our ministry alone spent a record ₹3,452 crore, and this year we expect to reach ₹5,000 crore. These projects have tangibly improved healthcare, education, connectivity, and local economies.

Migration is a concern — youth moving to bigger cities. How do you plan to generate jobs locally?
That’s a key focus. We are enhancing higher education — AIIMS, IIITs, central universities, and even the first National Sports University. Enrollment has increased 29%. Over 16 lakh youth have been skilled under various programmes, including specialized training in aviation and emerging sectors like animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics. We are also exploring overseas opportunities for skilled workers in Japan, Germany, and South Korea. With better education, skill development, and private investments, jobs will increasingly be created locally.

The region has also faced inter-community tensions. How is MDoNER addressing this?
Security matters are with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Our role is to create economic opportunities. If people have good jobs and livelihoods, other tensions take a back seat. By focusing on development, investment, and prosperity, we aim to foster integration and national growth.

There have been reports about unspent or reallocated budgets. How do you ensure accountability?
True, earlier bottlenecks existed — land acquisition, clearances, and limited state capacity. But now, transparency is ensured through online project tracking, third-party inspections, and quarterly reviews. If projects lag excessively, we close them and recover funds. The capacity of state governments has also improved — for example, highway construction has quadrupled compared to five years ago. Accountability mechanisms are much stronger today.

Finally, sir, what legacy would you like to leave as Secretary of MDoNER?
For me, the key legacy is institutionalizing systems — transparency, online processes, timely fund release, and capacity-building of states. More projects are being completed, people are seeing tangible benefits, and Northeast is now firmly in the national spotlight. Investors who once thought of it as a “black box” now see opportunities. We’ve brought the rest of India closer to the Northeast. If I can leave behind robust systems that continue delivering development and integration, that would be the most satisfying legacy.